WGEP Launches Back-to-School Campaign

This month, WGEP kicked off our annual Back-to-School campaign, raising critical funds to get girls back in the classroom this fall! This year, WGEP has an ambitious goal to raise $50,000 to send over 2,000 girls back to school. 

At the start of each school year, girls face the risk of never returning to class. Barriers such as school fees, menstruation, gender-based violence, and early pregnancy threaten their education. That’s why WGEP works to remove these obstacles so every girl has the chance to keep learning.

Here’s how YOU can support this campaign today:

1. Attend our upcoming Books & Breakfast book reading on September 13

2. Take part in our virtual school supply drive and give girls the tools and confidence they need to succeed

Help us spread the word—share this campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues, and let’s keep girls learning!

Senegal Summer Camp: Building Skills, Confidence, and Community

This August, WGEP Senegal hosted its annual summer camp for students on break. Scholars enjoyed games, explored new crafts, and built lasting friendships—all while preparing for the school year ahead.

Summer camps are still a novelty in the Sokone region, making this program especially meaningful. This year, it even caught the attention of the local TV station, which visited the camp and featured the story on air.

A total of 224 children ages 6–14 attended camp, held in both Sokone and Toubacouta in response to growing community demand. The theme mirrored Senegal’s national focus on sport and sportsmanship. Campers participated in “Olympic” games, joining teams named after different West African countries, in addition to arts, crafts, and cultural activities. These activities also help children develop teamwork skills and a sense of community, teaching them how to collaborate, support one another, and celebrate collective achievements.

New Partner, Enkishon Sidai Africa, Fights Gender-Based

Violence in Kenya

This August, two Maasai clans in Narok County, Kenya, will gather for Eunoto, a traditional graduation ceremony that marks the formal transition of young men from boyhood to manhood. Held only when elders determine that enough young men are ready, the ritual is one of the most important milestones in Maasai culture. During this time, young men are recognized as adults, prepared for leadership, and granted permission to marry.

But while Eunoto celebrates identity and continuity for boys, it also brings heightened risks for girls. Within the traditional framework, only women and girls who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are considered “graduated” and therefore allowed to participate. Those who have not undergone the practice are excluded—viewed as incomplete, immature, and unfit for marriage.

Community members gather for Eunoto

For girls who resist harmful practices like FGM or early marriage, moments like this ceremony can be especially dangerous. Community pressure intensifies, and without support, many girls face the threat of being cut or married off before they have the chance to finish school.

That’s why Enkishon’s work is so critical. By providing safe spaces, mentorship, and education, we ensure that girls have the confidence and protection they need to stand strong against harmful traditions. These programs not only keep girls in school but also empower them to reimagine what adulthood can look like—on their own terms.

Eunoto attendance in Narok County

Each year, Enkishon supports 200–300 girls through its alternative rite of passage program, which educates them on sexual and reproductive health, raises awareness about the dangers of FGM, and equips them with valuable life skills. This year, with the Eunoto ceremony taking place, Enkishon is anticipating double the number of girls.  WGEP will partner with Enkishon to ensure that these girls stay safe from FGM at this critical time. As this important cultural event unfolds, WGEP stands alongside Enkishon girls and their families, championing education as the most powerful rite of passage of all.